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Limited dispersal and an unexpected aggression pattern in a native supercolonial ant
Sanja M Hakala1,2, Mats Ittonen1,2,3, Perttu Seppä1,2
1Centre of Excellence in Biological Interactions, Organismal and Evolutionary Biology Research Programme Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences University of Helsinki Helsinki Finland.
Ecology and Evolution
|April 22, 2020
Summary
Ant supercolonies, while appearing cooperative, show aggression within nests. Genetic analysis reveals limited gene flow, suggesting these large ant societies are fluid mosaics, not single units.
Area of Science:
- Ecology
- Behavioral Ecology
- Population Genetics
Background:
- Understanding social group function requires studying individual movement and interactions.
- Ant supercolonies represent extreme cooperative units with individuals cooperating over large spatial scales.
- The internal structure of supercolonial societies needs further investigation using genetic and behavioral analyses.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the inner structure of a dense supercolony-like aggregation of the ant Formica (Coptoformica) pressilabris.
- To analyze aggression patterns and genetic relatedness within this aggregation.
- To determine if the aggregation functions as a single cooperative unit or a mosaic of interactions.
Main Methods:
- Conducted aggression assays on over 1,300 nests of Formica (Coptoformica) pressilabris.
- Utilized 10 DNA microsatellite markers to analyze population genetic structure.
- Correlated aggression levels with distance from focal nests and genetic relatedness.
Main Results:
- Low overall aggression levels were observed within the aggregation, but aggression increased with distance.
- Genetic data revealed a genetically viscous population structure with limited gene flow.
- No clear patterns emerged to delineate specific colony borders within the aggregation.
Conclusions:
- A Formica supercolony can be a fluid mosaic of interactions rather than a single, unified entity.
- Aggression patterns and genetic structure suggest complex internest dynamics within supercolonies.
- Detailed study of internest interactions is crucial for accurately describing supercolonial organization.
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